Dear Judge Eaton: Can a judge force a defendant to take the stand? -- Lisa, Melbourne, Fla.

No. The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant the right to remain silent. This is not true in civil cases, where the parties can call each other as witnesses. -- Judge O.H. Eaton

Who Pays Travel Expenses?

Dear Judge Eaton: Who pays for the airfares and hotel expenses for out-of-town witnesses who testify on behalf of the state or defense? -- Stan, Palm Coast, Fla.

The Florida Legislature provides funding in different budgets for payment of criminal justice costs. The state attorneys have a budget and the public defenders have a budget. The trial courts have a budget. Funding for due-process costs, such as airfares and hotel expenses for witnesses, are paid out of funding through the Justice Administration Commission in Tallahassee. Other funding is provided to the Offices of Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, who handle death-row proceedings after the initial appeal has been completed. Finally, the individual counties provide funding for court facilities, security and technology. I am sure I have left some agency out, but you get the idea. Money for the judicial branch comes from the same source as money for the legislative and executive branches -- from revenue generated from taxes and fees. The judicial branch is a bargain. Less than one percent of the entire state budget goes to the courts. -- Judge O.H. Eaton

Allow Odor Evidence?

Dear Judge Eaton: Much has been made of the newness of Dr. Arpad Vass? odor studies, as well as the fact that his work is done at a research lab and not a regular lab. Some are saying the evidence should not have been introduced. However, just because something is new to science doesn?t mean it isn?t valid, does it? -- Marie, Troy, N.Y.

The question is not validity. It is whether the scientific test or experiment is admissible in evidence. The Florida Evidence Code has adopted what is generally called the Frye test. That is the name of a federal case from the 1930s. Under the Frye test, a scientific test or experiment is not admissible until it is generally accepted by the relevant scientific community. The so-called sniff test did not pass the Frye test, but the trial judge admitted it anyway under the exception called pure opinion. I think that was a stretch. No doubt the admissibility of the test will become an issue on appeal if Casey Anthony is found guilty of some crime. Please note: The federal courts and many state courts have abandoned the Frye test in favor of the Daubert test. That test puts the trial judge as the gatekeeper for the question of admissibility of scientific evidence instead of the scientific community. The advantage of Daubert is it allows new tests to be admitted as evidence before the scientific community recognizes the test, which can take years. -- Judge O.H. Eaton

MORE: Extended CoverageSTAY UPDATED: Casey iPhone App

Where Will Casey Go During Appeal?

Dear Judge Eaton: If Casey is found guilty of any of the charges, it goes without saying that the defense will be filing appeals. Does Casey, who is now housed in the Orange County Jail, get sent to a regular jail or will she stay in the county jail while the appeals are filed? -- Virginia, Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.

If Casey Anthony is found guilty of a felony and sentenced to the Department of Corrections of the state of Florida, she will be taken to the reception center at Lowell Correctional Institute and assigned to a correctional facility for women within the prison system. More than likely, she will remain at Lowell, which is located north of Ocala in Marion County. Florida has over 130 state prison facilities, several of which are designed for women inmates. You can get a lot more information about Florida?s prison system by searching the web for Florida Department of Corrections. -- Judge O.H. Eaton

How Much Longer?

Dear Judge Eaton: I know this is a very complicated case, but how much longer will the trial last? -- Eric

My guess is two more weeks. Don?t hold me to it. -- Judge O.H. Eaton

Why Accept Juror 4?

Dear Judge Eaton: In your opinion, why would Judge Perry have accepted someone like Juror 4, who said she had a religious prohibition against judging someone, to sit on the jury panel? -- Joelle

Judge Perry did not select the jurors. The lawyers did. The prosecutor asked to excuse this juror. However, the defense asked the prosecutor to give a ?race neutral? reason for the challenge, Judge Perry was not satisfied with the reason given and he denied the challenge. -- Judge O.H. Eaton